Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1887-06-09

l was born! How beautiful it is! how
happy it makes me to see my country
again! All, If could only remain look
ing at il forever!"
The girl had fallen on her knees as be-
fore Madonna, repeating to herself;
How lovely it is! 1t seems as though
i must be back in Sorrento, and Saliva
tore must be coming to meet me! | was
cold little while ago; now l am warm.
Ifeel the sun upon the canvas, which
sparkless in the tops and on the sea.
1t is beautiful, so beautiful
Graziella was so absorbed in the con
temptation of the picture and the me
mories it called forth that she did not
notice the entrance of Frederic, who
gently approached her, aud, after listen
with thoughtful face to her enthusiastic
monologue, touched her cheek lightly
with trembling finger and said:
"Are you praying, little oney"
"Oh, no! signor; | was thinking that
these sketches must be worth som etAing
at least this Que of my own country
81 had forgotten them, little one" he
answered.
"This one of Sorrento, signor, is beauti-
full; how we'll | know it! 1t needs only
Salvatore in it TO make ii perfect"
ySalvatore," he repeated, gazing down
thoughtfully at the 2rshed, excited face
of the girl.
MY intended husband, signor; he lives
in the place you have so beautifully
painted"
"And are you so anxious to see him
again, little oneg"
The girl did not answer in words, but
tears swelled up to her eyes, and her lips
trembled. The man turned aside and walk
ed to the dusty window, and in moment
the girl was bT his side.
"Your soul speaks in that picture, sig
nor. 1t is lovely-better, far better than
that, she added, pointing to the famous
"Nero's Dream"
''You shall see Salvatore, little one,o
said the artist, gazing sadly at the girl;
"but leave me now, for have no need of
you tkis morning"
There was yet day to spare before the
expiration of the time in which his pic
lures were TO be sent to the exhibition.
When Graziella left the room, "Nero's
Dream" was turned TO the wall, and was
never finished. Two weeks later, Fred
eric had the satisfaction of seeing his
Sorrento" admirably hung at the acad-
envy, where it was enthusiastically praised,
and what is better, was sold at an extrav-
agant and unlooked-for price to an en-
thusiastic millionaire.
One day, when GrazieIla was again pos
ing for our friend, and looking more per-
sive than usual, Frederic suddenly sur
prised her by asking how much money
was yet lacking to make up the sum of
the five hundred dollars.
"Alas! signor, three hundred dollars"
was the mournful reply. II shall not see
Salvatore for many year"
"And are you SO anxious to see him,
little oneY"
My heart would break, signor. without
that hope. He is my life, my soulw
The artist sighed and stared gloomily
at the young girl.
care you angry with me, signorY" she
asked tlmidly.
"Angry, little one? No! See my
child, here are three hundred dollars,
Take them; they are honestly yours, for
without you they would never have been
earned. Through you ! sold my italian
sketoh, and l give you this to take you
back to Italy and toSalvtore! One kiss
my child, as a memory, and then good-by
to you forever"
And that is the reason that ten days
later the little model babe farewell to
New York to return to her native LAM
and to her Salvatore, whom perhaps she
has been able TO keep awake by relating
to him her wonderful experiences in the
great city beyond the sea.